On the intersexual selection for spurs in the ring-necked pheasant

The spurs of male ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), as in other Galliformes, have been classically considered as weapons used in fighting, and are therefore subjects of intrasexual selection. However, there is a debate on their possible role as cues in female choice, and hence in intersexual selection. We studied a group of pheasants in captivity over 3 years and found that (1) females did not show any preference on experimentally manipulated spur lengths; (2) the spur length was positively correlated with physical condition and weight for juvenile males, and with wattle display and dominance when adults; (3) spur length showed a directional (not fluctuating) asymmetry; and (4) the repeatability of spur length between years was highly significant These results do not provide any support to the hypothesis that spur length has a role in intersexual selection.[Behav Ecol 7: 362–369 (1996)